Elderly dog with weakening back end - to walk, or not to walk.

[scruffyponies]

My Rottie x bullmastiff is now 14. Her back end is getting weaker, and she increasingly stands like an overbred GSD.
She's still very happy, alert, continent and enjoys a wander around the garden (acres) several times per day, plus walks of up to a mile if she gets the chance.
OH and I differ as to whether these walks are doing harm or good. I'm in the 'if you don't use it, you lose it' camp, where OH thinks it may be more than is good for her.

I know she can't last forever, but we both love this dog dearly, and want to keep her going as long as possible, especially as she's in such high spirits. Who is right?

 

[Sparky Lily]

I think maybe you both are! We have a 14 year old beagle in much the same state. We decide whether to walk, and if so, how far/long on a daily basis. Some days he just potters around the garden; others he may be out for over half an hour. Sometimes it is a stroll up and down the road; others a scamper in the field. He is always eager to get out, but we make the decision on how he is on that particular day. This has worked better for him than walking him daily as we had done previously.

 

[skinnydipper]

My Rottie x bullmastiff is now 14. Her back end is getting weaker, and she increasingly stands like an overbred GSD.
She's still very happy, alert, continent and enjoys a wander around the garden (acres) several times per day, plus walks of up to a mile if she gets the chance.
OH and I differ as to whether these walks are doing harm or good. I'm in the 'if you don't use it, you lose it' camp, where OH thinks it may be more than is good for her.

I know she can't last forever, but we both love this dog dearly, and want to keep her going as long as possible, especially as she's in such high spirits. Who is right?

Does she appear stiff after resting?

 

[scruffyponies]

Does she appear stiff after resting?

First few strides after a long spell on the sofa, yes, but not excessively. TBH I'm worse

 

[Zoeypxo]

It may not be suitable but i have a 11 year old malamute, her back end started to get a bit weak/dropped around 9 years old. I started taking her to hydrotherapy around then and she improved massively and is still going strong.

 

[skinnydipper]

First few strides after a long spell on the sofa, yes, but not excessively. TBH I'm worse

Stiffness is a sign of pain. Does she have any other subtle signs of pain?

It might be worth asking your vet if she would benefit from pain relief. A trial of an antiinflammatory?

 

[Equi]

I’d let her walk about the fields etc but I wouldn’t be asking her to do a mile long organised walk. She will do whatever you ask of her even if it isn’t in her own best interests.

 

[scruffyponies]

She had acute inflammatory issues in her hips, which paralysed her with pain about 4 years ago. She's on daily turmeric and black pepper, youmove and a bit of linseed. This seems to have prevented any recurrence. I'm not saying she's totally pain-free - what elderly animal is? - but she isn't showing any signs of discomfort apart from when lifted into the car, which has to be done very carefully now.
Biggest issue seems to be muscle atrophy. A strong wind would blow her back end over, and she often will drag a toe for a moment.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I'd let her move around your property at her own pace rather than take her out for walks.

My (overbred? ) GSD just turned 13, still has a lovely elastic/fluid gait and no stiffness, was able to do 30-40 minutes in one go a few times a week before Christmas but can now see him slowing down after about 15-20 so he gets 10 mins x3 a day max. My garden isn't big enough for pottering and he just grazes anyway.

 

[skinnydipper]

I'm not sure what you mean by she stands like an overbred GSD but if that is not her normal stance she needs evaluation by a vet.

Elderly dogs do not need to be in pain and if she needs to be lifted into the car very carefully and is stiff when rising then it would appear that she is.

 

[SusieT]

I would get her properly assessed for pain as you are both right - too much will make her sore and stiff, too little and her muscles atrophy. But a good pain relief would be much more effective at providing the best quality of life for as long as posisble.

 

[slimjim86]

Our elderly malamute lost muscle tone quite suddenly and quite quickly, vets just put it down to his age and gave him pain meds, he started to see a chiropractor regularly and go swimming and it definitely slowed the decline down x

 

[meleeka]

I’m another who would start with a vet check up. An anti inflammatory will probably make her feel loads better, which will help her mobility because she’ll be able to walk normally.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

First few strides after a long spell on the sofa, yes, but not excessively. TBH I'm worse

Sounds like me!

Bear, almost 14, having been to the vet, is on loxicom. He accompanies us on walks and goes at his own pace. I'm super slow so never go past him. He too is stiff when he first gets up, literally the first three steps. He won't jump into the car, but happily jumps up on the recliner for cuddles. I think I'd see how the dog is on walks then check daily. If Bear is struggling, he gets a short potter round the green outside the house, seems perfectly happy, but is very stoic, so I don't do huge walks. I too think vet.

 

[conkers]

My old lady takes the decision when it comes to walks. She is 15 and also has a weakening back end.

Some days she just potters around the garden and some days she comes for a walk with the youngsters. You can really tell when she wants to come as she is the first out of the door and to the gate.

When she comes with us we either do a slower, shorter walk or we take her pram with us. The pram has been an absolute game changer for her. She can come with us, enjoy her little stroll and then gets to sit in it like a princess whilst enjoying the views. We leave the sun roof open and drop treats in every now and again. It means that we can all enjoy a decent walk without her being scared of it being too far and without short changing the youngsters in their need for a longer walk.
(She is a terrier so smaller than your girl but very similar in how she is aging.)

 

[CorvusCorax]

Regular reminder, not aimed at anyone in particular, that drive to go out and do fun things they've always done/adrenaline will carry the dog through pain and then the stiffness and soreness comes later, so the dog never really makes the link between over exertion = pain so they do not know to self regulate.

 

[scruffyponies]

Right now my young dog is learning to relax on the lead, which means lots of stop-starts, turns and funeral-marching. Walks are short and the elderly dog is often going faster than we are

 

[irishdraft]

I have border Collie siblings who are both 14 and a half, one of them is also weak & wobbly behind but he still comes out for a reasonable walk in the morning although is quite slow so we all walk at his pace. In the evening the others go out for another walk but he just goes out to the garden so that seems to work I think if he was left behind for both walks he would get very upset, he is also on loxicom to help with stiffness.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Right now my young dog is learning to relax on the lead, which means lots of stop-starts, turns and funeral-marching. Walks are short and the elderly dog is often going faster than we are

This made me smile! I am doing the same and my older (still young though) dog just thinks I've gone nuts!

I used to take my old Collie on "fake walks" when she got a bit doddery behind. I felt bad leaving her behind all the time and she really wanted to come, so we did special walks for her which often just involved reaching the road outside the drive and sniffing round or getting in the car and getting out somewhere new for a sniff rather than actually going anywhere. She seemed to enjoy that.

 

[Clodagh]

I second or third proper pain relief for her. She can’t say how bad it is, but if any dog of mine did not want to be lifted I’d assume a red flag.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I'm another who would much rather rely on prescribed pain relief than turmeric. I also second the hydrotherapy suggestion. I have known it make a huge difference.

 

[AmyMay]

3rd, 4th and 5thing proper pain relief.

 

[paisley]

Can also reccomend looking into a Equilibrium massage mitt- mine loves it after a walk and I feel it helps him quite a bit.

 

[Apercrumbie]

6thing looking into proper pain relief. If she's happy & stimulated in your garden, I wouldn't supplement that with separate walks. However you may need to do short, special ones if she really misses going "out".

 

[MurphysMinder]

Yet another vote for proper pain relief , and maybe a referral for physio/hydrotherapy . Let her potter in the garden , and maybe the odd little “adventure” out occasionally.

 

[scruffyponies]

I second or third proper pain relief for her. She can’t say how bad it is, but if any dog of mine did not want to be lifted I’d assume a red flag.

I didn't say she didn't want. I said it had to be done carefully. She's an odd combination of built like a tank (37kg) and very frail.
It would be easy to hurt her due the large amount of force which is necessary to get her off the ground.
We have a good system where she puts her own front feet on the boot lip (4x4), and I support her back end to hop in.

 

[skinnydipper]

I didn't say she didn't want. I said it had to be done carefully. She's an odd combination of built like a tank (37kg) and very frail.
It would be easy to hurt her due the large amount of force which is necessary to get her off the ground.
We have a good system where she puts her own front feet on the boot lip (4x4), and I support her back end to hop in.

Why don't you just take her to the vets for evaluation and evidenced based pain relief if necessary?

Tell the vet things you have noticed, like the stiffness, unable to get in the car. Take videos of how she stands and her gait to show the vet.

You can't go wrong with a vet visit. There is either nothing to find, no treatment necessary or if she is in pain the vet can prescribe pain relief.

 

[Teaselmeg]

I would have a check up at the vets, and consider a pain meds trial AND have a physio look her over as well. Vets will check for pain, but won't necessarily see the tight fascia etc.

My 11yr old lurcher continues to see her canine massage therapist regularly and we do conditioning work. She was a coursing dog before I got her and we did agility together, but she is pretty amazing for her age because she had regular massage/ release of tight fascia throughout her agility career. I would do all this, then you will see how much exercise your dog is happy to do.

 

[gunnergundog]

Use a ramp to get her into the vehicle so you don't need to man handle her rear end and book a vet visit.

 

[scruffyponies]

She has been to the vet quite recently for a checkup. No concerns there, and she hasn't suddenly changed or developed any new problem.
No dog of that age (age 14, vs life expectancy of 8-10!) is entirely pain free, but she is moving around happily, comfortably, and much more than you'd expect for such a venerable mastiff-type.
Not convinced that giving metacam to a dog who is comfortable and who has had a very sensitive stomach* her entire life is the best advice, TBH.

*she doesn't react well to new things. Once took out our house's whole electrics by throwing up on a plug socket.